Editor’s Letter:

This month the clocks fall back, and we enter darker, colder months in the northern hemisphere. It is the start of the winter swimming season, which will be celebrated by many swimmers, those who are seasoned, as well as those new to outdoor swimming.

With kids back to school and people heading indoors, coughs and colds are common again and with the lack of daylight hours our mental health can dip too, which is why in the October issue I wanted to focus on our health. As so many swimmers report the benefits of swimming, especially in the colder months, I thought it would be interesting to take a closer look.

Rowan Clarke meets swimmers with real-life stories of how swimming improved their health (p14) and I sit down with Dr Mark Harper, cold water enthusiast and anesthetist to find out about his new book, Chill: The Cold Water Swim Cure (p20). Elaine Howley looks into the history of survival swims (p24), Jonathan Cowie explores body culture (p38) and I find out about social prescribing (p42). All this as well as travel to Guernsey, neoprene accessories on test and your stories, photos and more!

Enjoy the issue

Ella Foote, Editor

Get in touch…

Email editor@outdoorswimmer.com or connect on social media.
It’s good to talk!

COVER STORY 

• Bodies of Water: Rowan Clarke explores the healing powers of cold water 

FEATURES 

• Swimterview: Dr Mark Harper 
• Swim History: Survival swims  
• “The Heart is There”: Philippine open water renaissance 

SWIM PEOPLE 

• Simon Griffiths: How to swim for health 
• Sophie Etheridge: I am a Channel swimmer 
• Susanne Masters: Environment 
• Sarah Thomas: Swimming through cancer treatment 
• Joe Minihane: Sewage crisis 
• Minreet Kaur: Beginner Swimmer 
• Caroline Saxon: Prioritising rest 
• Jonathan Cowie: Free Body Culture 

COACH 

• Cassie Patten: Training zones 
• Open Water Skills: How to swim in challenging sea conditions 
• Move of the Month: Tricep kickbacks 
• I Survived: Transient Global Amnesia 
• Myth Busting: Cold water and wetsuits 

ON TEST 

• Neoprene accessories 
• Ear plugs 

HEALTH 

• Social Prescribing  
• Ear health 

CHALLENGE 

• Event Review: Herm 360 
• UK and international event listings 

 EXPLORE 

• Swim Walk: The Punchbowl, Brecon Beacons 
• Travel: Guernsey 

SWIM LIFE 

• Photo Competition 
• Author profile 
• Swimterprize 
• Watch, Read, Listen 
• My Swim Story 

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🌍  Carbon balanced paper, vegetable-based printing ink and water-based cover seals. We have the environment at the forefront of our minds when making the magazine. (We are constantly trying to do better!)